Leominster Natural Health Centre
Community Centre
School Road
Leominster
Herefordshire HR6 8NJ
Tel: 01568 613 116 / 07791 738596
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does it feel like to have acupuncture?
A. Acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to the needles used in injections and blood tests. They are much finer and solid, not hollow. When a needle is inserted, the sensation is often described as a tingling or dull ache. Needles may be inserted and immediately removed, or may be left in place for thirty minutes or more, depending on the effect required.
During treatment, patients commonly experience a heaviness in the limbs or a pleasant feeling of relaxation. The benefits of acupuncture frequently include more than just relief from a particular condition. Many people find that it can also lead to an enhanced sense of overall wellbeing.
Q. Will there be any blood? A. It is rare, although it does occasionally happen that a small drop of blood is drawn. The skin is very elastic on most people and as the needles are very fine, and the stimulation to the needles is very gentle, the acupuncture hole closes itself once the needle is removed. The adjacent photo was taken after the inserted needle was removed. As you can see there is no puncture wound.
Q. How many needles will I have?
A. Depending on your condition you may have as few as two or four, or as many as ten or twelve needles for each treatment. The number of needles very much depends on the diagnosis and your condition on the treatment day. It is also quite usual for different points to be selected as your condition changes during a course of treatment.
Q: Is it safe?
A: There have been three surveys in the last six years which have shown that acupuncture is amongst the safest therapies in use in the UK today. Out of 68,000 recorded treatments in two of the 2001 surveys, there were only 14 minor (bruising, feeling nauseous) adverse events. There have been very few reports of serious adverse events, and most adverse effects are transient, lasting no more than a day or so.
Q: What should I do before treatment?
A: You should try not to have a large meal within an hour of your appointment as the process of digestion will alter the pattern of your pulse. Having said this, I would not recommend for you to have treatment on an empty stomach so a snack or a light meal is recommended. You should also avoid alcohol, and food or drinks which colour your tongue, such as coffee, immediately prior to treatment.
Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: This varies between patients. Most people have a course of treatment and usually notice changes after four to six sessions. I will review your progress with you, and carefully monitor your treatment to ensure that it matches your needs.
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